Members of the public can meet one-on-one with a social worker, Margarette Ouji, at the main branch of the Montclair Public Library. This service is free and can be reserved in advance or on a walk-in, first-come first-served basis. “Having a social worker on staff enables us to grow deeper into our role as a …Read More…
The Township of Verona recently held a ribbon cutting to celebrate the opening of Verona’s Inclusive Playground & Fitness Area. The new playground and fitness area includes specifically selected playground elements to promote inclusivity and cognitive learning activities for families and children of all abilities. The playground area, fitness area and restrooms are wheelchair accessible. …Read More…
On Monday, March 25, Verona Mayor Christopher Tamburro and members of the Verona Council kicked off construction on the Township’s new fully inclusive playground located at the Community Center. The new playground space was carefully designed to bring families of all abilities together for play and socialization. Funders for the project included the Essex County …Read More…
The Partners for Health Foundation Board of Trustees is pleased to announce it approved grants totaling more than $200,000 in the first half of 2023, including: General Operating funds to the Northeast Earth Coalition to enhance their efforts to protect the environment, and promote local sustainability and food security. Their initiatives include the Free Little …Read More…
Montclair Gateway to Aging in Place has launched an architectural design competition for freestanding, practical, and reusable Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). The competition will address the housing income challenge for seniors who want to age in place, and propose solutions for increasing density in suburban communities that will have the least impact on streetscapes and …Read More…
The Montclair Foundation and Van Vleck House & Gardens recently sponsored their third annual community exhibition, Scarecrow Exhibit in the Gardens. The exhibit featured handcrafted scarecrows created by scout troops, nonprofit organizations, local businesses, families, classes, and individuals. Scarecrow designs ranged from the traditional to dark-and-scary tributes to Halloween, from repurposed and upcycled creatures to …Read More…
A highly anticipated “greenway” that will thread through eight towns and cities in North Jersey is getting closer to fruition. But officials say it could take “years” before the massive project reaches the finish line. On Thursday, September 15th Gov. Phil Murphy gave a status update on the Essex-Hudson Greenway, a new state park that …Read More…
Partners for Health has awarded grants totaling $315,000 to support local soup kitchens, food pantries and organizations working toward affordable housing and healthy food for all. Participating organizations include: City Green, Family Promise of Essex County, HOMECorp, Human Needs Food Pantry, MESH (Montclair Emergency Services for Hope), MNDC (Montclair Community Farms, Montclair Neighborhood Development Corporation, …Read More…
On Wednesday, November 24, 2021, USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture announced a $500,000 award to City Green supporting the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) statewide nutrition incentive program, The Garden State Good Food Network. Over three years, the award from the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP) will support the Garden State Good …Read More…
Deal reached after Open Space Institute negotiated $65 million purchase rights for nearly nine miles of former rail line and galvanized private fundraising effort. After years of direct negotiation that led to a $65 million purchase agreement between OSI and Norfolk Southern Railway, Governor Phil Murphy announced on November 12, 2021 that the state of …Read More…
Partners for Health Foundation raised more than $110,000 at its Annual Golf Tournament held on Thursday, October 7 at the Green Brook Country Club in North Caldwell. “On behalf of our Board of Trustees, I want to thank everyone who supported this year’s outing. I also want to acknowledge the event honoree, Co Bertsche, for …Read More…
By Michelle DeWittSenior Citizens Coordinator for the Township of Montclair-Lifelong Montclair When we kicked off the Winter 2021 semester of the MILL (Montclair Institute for Lifelong Learning) after almost a full year of virtual programming, we thought that local seniors would be tired of experiencing the world virtually from their computers. Instead, they continued to …Read More…
Written and Submitted by Marissa Staffen, Montclair Community Farms This past week we welcomed a group of 9 energetic and ambitious high school students from across Essex County onto the farm! Our farmpreneurs will be busy this season gaining hands-on experience in agriculture, culinary arts, and entrepreneurship as participants in our “Empowering Youth Entrepreneurs From …Read More…
Written and submitted by: Lisa Martin, Director of Food Access, City Green City Green’s Garden State Good Food Network (GSGFN) is a statewide farmers’ market incentive program for New Jersey’s SNAP, WIC, and Senior FMNP shoppers. Through this program, anytime a SNAP, WIC, or Senior FMNP customer uses their Families First EBT card at a …Read More…
Partners for Health Foundation has made a two-year grant to the Open Space Institute (OSI) to inform the development and design of a long-sought nine-mile, multi-use greenway following the path of the Old Boonton train line through Montclair, Glen Ridge and Bloomfield on through Belleville, Newark, Kearny, Secaucus and Jersey City. The Essex-Hudson Greenway would …Read More…
Submitted by KinderSmile Foundation The mission of KinderSmile Foundation is to provide underserved children with access to comprehensive dental care and to educate children and their families about the importance of dental hygiene as related to total health. We envision a future where every child has access to a dentist, and preventable dental diseases are …Read More…
Written by Beth Pulawski, Director of Montclair Community Farms This year has been challenging. The COVID-19 pandemic and #BlackLivesMatter movement have exposed the deep inequities and inequalities that have existed and persisted in our country and community for too long. They have required that we not only think differently, but do differently, to continue to …Read More…
Neighbor to Neighbor Network (NTNN), in collaboration with the Township of Bloomfield and the Bloomfield Garden Committee, established the Community Garden at Milbank Park in 2019 and is enjoying it first full growing season this year. This volunteer-led project is a grassroots effort designed to create gardening space for residents, as well as a community …Read More…
By JOSE GERMANOriginal Article can be found at the Montclair Local Jose German writes the “Gardening for Life” column for Montclair Local and is the founder of the Northeast Earth Coalition. Shared with permission from Jose German. The Victory Garden movement, nowadays more commonly referred to as urban farming, is very strong in Montclair. In the …Read More…
Registration for the Montclair Institute for Lifelong Learning (MILL) launched on schedule on April 6, but participants will find that the timetable is practically the only aspect of the program to remain unchanged from prior semesters. When the Division of Senior Services/Lifelong Montclair closed Edgemont Park House for programs in early March, staff began investigating …Read More…
On a fall day at the Montclair Farmers’ Market, a customer walked up to the market managers’ tent with a $5 bill. But it wasn’t your average $5 bill – it was a Good Food Bucks coupon, part of the Double Bucks program that allows federal food benefit recipients to buy twice as much local …Read More…
As New Jersey continues to struggle with an economy marked by low-wage jobs, unemployment, foreclosures, and an increasing cost of living, the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) remains a crucial lifeline for low-income families. By lifting families out of poverty and giving a boost to local economies, the EITC is a vital tax credit for …Read More…
Early childhood is the ideal time to establish healthy behaviors, including healthy eating habits. According to the Food and Nutrition Service of the US Department of Agriculture, “Farm to Preschool works to connect early child care and education settings to local food producers with the objectives of serving locally-grown, healthy foods to young children, providing …Read More…
In August 2018, Karen DeLuca, a local artist, art instructor and graphic designer, spent two mornings at the Montclair Community Farms “Farm Camp.” She invited the campers, ages 7-11, to paint images informed by their one-week camp experience. Fresh vegetables, fruits and flowers that were picked on the farm – along with eggs, honey …Read More…
To celebrate its 10th anniversary, Partners for Health Foundation awarded 10 Community Impact Awards, and grants totaling $100,000, to recognize nonprofit organizations and individuals making a significant difference in the health and well-being of local communities. The awardees were selected from 65 nominations that cited contributions in areas such as hunger, homelessness, chronic disease prevention, oral health, and mental …Read More…
With a grant from Partners for Health Foundation, the Montclair Child Development Center has been able to remove carpet and install child-friendly, non-porous floors at their Montclair school. More than 10% of the children who attend MCDC have asthma and more than 25% have allergies, both of which cause labored breathing at times. These children …Read More…
Renowned geriatrician and visionary Dr. Bill Thomas’s ChangingAging tour is coming to northern New Jersey! The tour kicks off in Ridgewood on November 7th and continues in Montclair for two live “nonfiction theater” stage productions on November 8th. Featuring Dr. Bill Thomas, international recording artist Samité and reggae legend Nate Silas Richardson, the tour explores …Read More…
More than 13 million kids in the country go to school hungry, and hunger detracts from their ability to focus on learning during the school day. That’s why Partners for Heath Foundation is taking action to make sure children in Northern New Jersey get a healthy breakfast this school year. Our very own Kathy Smith …Read More…
Many students who attend Bloomfield elementary schools qualify for a free breakfast. but many of those students aren’t able to get to school early to receive the meal. Berkeley Elementary School is now implementing a new pilot of “Breakfast after the Bell” through a partnership with Bloomfield Department of Health and Human Services. The school …Read More…
The New Jersey Healthy Communities Network’s Community Grants Program brings together local, regional, and statewide funders, leaders and partners to support communities in implementing healthy eating and active living strategies to advance environment, policy and system changes. Since 2011, the NJHCN Community Grants Program has provided $3.2 million in grants. Partners for Health Foundation is proud …Read More…
A new self-guided walking and biking tour booklet that highlights some of Montclair’s historic districts is now available through the Montclair History Center. The booklet includes six self-guided tours, five of which are less than 2 miles and can easily be accomplished on foot. A tour of the Montclair Art Colony’s studios and homes is …Read More…
Toni’s Kitchen’s Summer Love Food Program, running from June 25 through August 31, works to ensure local children at summer camps, preschools, libraries and sports programs are well fed all summer long. Summer can be a tough time for low-income families. As school closes, breakfast and lunch programs that children rely on disappear. Working families …Read More…
As suburban poverty has risen, more and more local residents have struggled to put food on the table. Soup kitchens and food pantries report sharp increases in demand for their services, while their usual sources of support cannot keep up with increased demand for food. Partners for Health Foundation launched its fresh produce grants program …Read More…
Learn more at partnersfdn.org/awards/
Montclair Community Farms (MCF) is a coalition of HOMECorp, Montclair Department of Health and Human Services, Montclair History Center, Montclair State University, and Rutgers Cooperative Extension: Essex County 4-H and Master Gardeners. Community volunteers and Youth farmers tend their two farm sites along with a farm coordinator and farm director. MCF plants, grows, harvests and …Watch Video…
Let’s Walk is a free walking program of guided and themed walks for those who are interested in developing a healthier lifestyle. The program offers walks at various locations throughout the week and is coordinated by the New Jersey Bike & Walk Coalition. Regular walking has been identified by health experts and the US Surgeon …Read More…
Fourth Ward Councilwoman Renee Baskerville and the Township of Montclair are partnering with Hackensack Meridian Health Mountainside Medical Center, Partners for Health and City Green, to once again welcome the City Green Veggie Mobile – a mobile farm stand that brings fresh produce and other healthful foods to Montclair’s South End district. The Veggie Mobile will be …Read More…
Peter Coyl, Director of the Montclair Public Library, and Anne Mernin, Director of Toni’s Kitchen, talked to Steve Adubato on the Caucus: NJ program about the summer lunch program sponsored by Partners for Health. Watch the video below to see how this partnership is offering free and healthy lunches in addition to reading and …Watch Video…
The Montclair Public Library in partnership with Toni’s Kitchen is nourishing the bodies and minds of Montclair youth this summer. The program is open to all children and teens, regardless of need. The Library is implementing the Summer Lunch Program for children and teens under 18 through a grant from Partners for Health Foundation. …Read More…
New Jersey Bike and Walk Coalition opened a bike depot on March 24th at Bloomfield’s Glenwood Avenue Parking Garage, steps away from the NJ Transit train station. The organization’s first bike depot opened two years ago at Montclair’s Bay Street Station. The Montclair depot can accommodate up to 24 bicycles and is near capacity! A …Read More…
Five grantee communities—Bloomfield, Clifton, Montclair, Nutley and West Orange—are now part of the New Jersey Healthy Communities Network. The network has 43 grantee communities across the state supported by four funders in addition to Partners for Health. The Steering Committee believes communities learn best from their peers though face-to-face regional and statewide meetings, and that personalized …Read More…
Save the date! Montclair Public Library & Foundation’s Summer Reading Celebration will be at Edgemont Park on Saturday, August 20 from 9am to 5pm. Kids, teens, and adults are invited to this day of programs, activities and good old fashioned fun. The event will feature yoga, mini-Adult School of Montclair programs focused on health, fitness, and …Read More…
By Katie York, PhD, MBA Project Director, Lifelong Montclair After attending a conference on age-friendly communities, I realized how far Lifelong Montclair has come but how far we still have to go. Lifelong Montclair, a Partners for Health initiative in collaboration with the Township of Montclair, started two years ago under the moniker Aging in …read more…
Joy Kay, Executive Director, Montclair Shared Housing Association The residents at The Montclair Inn are always filled with pride when they talk about life at the Inn. Since 1990 it has been a residence for independent seniors who enjoy the camaraderie of the small community and the warmth and beauty of the house. One of …read more…
Want to improve your community? Enlist the help of third graders inspired by speakers from community organizations including A Lot to Grow community gardens, the United Way of Northern NJ, Bike & Walk Montclair, and PAWS. Dana Rose, Meghan Schorr and Maurine Toth, third grade teachers at Montclair Kimberley Academy, implemented an innovative Social Studies …read more…
By Jennifer Hanawald Local children are learning about suburban hunger and taking action to raise donations for emergency food programs. Leaders of Girl Scout Troop 20528 in Montclair said the goals of the Campaign to Fight Hunger the Healthy Way — to help community members of all ages to eat well — resonated deeply. The …read more…
By Jennifer Hanawald The Pre-K through second graders of School 2 in Little Falls are doing an amazing job collecting healthy foods for two food pantries: St. Agnes Church and First Reformed Church, both in Little Falls. Our school’s Media Advisor, Ms. Roth, has been reading to our students from the list of children’s book …read more…
By Jennifer Hanawald Partners for Health has kicked off a year-long campaign to raise awareness about suburban hunger and inspire action that will help nourish our neighbors who struggle to afford healthy food. The grant-making foundation developed the Fight Hunger the Healthy Way campaign to put an emphasis on donations of healthy foods to emergency …read more…
By Jennifer Hanawald What would you do if you had to choose between paying the bills and putting a decent meal on the table? With poverty rising twice as fast in the suburbs than in cities, that’s become the reality for an increasing number of our neighbors, right here in Montclair. Partners for Health, a …read more…